My Sear Craftsman riding lawn mower model 917.257550 engine dies when engaging mower deck.

Ronald Clark, June 2007

I found a craftsman rider road side after adding gas and charging battery, It started and drove fine but the second I engaged the blades it cut out !!! It was the the seat switch I pull it out press it with my hand and all was good !! Let go and it died ! So I pull it out and it stay on :') P DAWG

P DAWG, October 2010

When you engage the blades, does it die as if its electrical or does it sputter and die? If it dies like the key was turned off it's electrical and could be that the safety switch under the seat has gotten unplugged or the switch that is attached to the blade engage lever is unplugged or has gone bad but quite unusual for the safety switch to go bad.
If its sputtering then you've got a carb issue and probably have a partially plugged jet in the carb.

Bob, December 2008

My craftsman riding mower 22.5 hp 42" deck model #917.257740 is over 12 years old. Within the last year it would die when the clutch was pushed in. I checked all the blades, rotate freely, all the pulleys, rotate freely, all the belts, all are ok and not binding, checked the safety switch it is plugged in but cannot tell if it is any good.
How loose is the clutch suppose to be on the motor?

Ray, September 2007

something simple to check , if you didnt- make sure the blades rotate freely by hand . There can be rope /vines that wrap aroung the bolt mounting area.

or a blade could be bent and blocking rotation.
the blade drive belt could it off track....good luck , lets us know what it was......

john, June 2007

That sounds like a safety switch problem

bg, June 2007